Retiring McManus criticises Offaly manager choice

OFFALY legend Ciarán McManus has criticised the procedures used by board chiefs to appoint Gerry Cooney as the county’s new football manager.

McManus, who confirmed his retirement at the weekend, was surprised that officials opted outside the county for a boss.

“There were great Offaly men looking for the job as well as a good Dublin man,” he told Midlands Radio 103.

“It is just disappointing the lads didn’t get the chance early on and I am very disappointed for Stephen (Darby) and Tom (Coffey) in particular. Both would have done a great job.”

He admitted the choice played a role in his decision to retire.

“That just added to it, but it was part of it (my decision to retire). The new management obviously want to look at fresh players and maybe there is a spot there now for a young lad to get in.”

Cooney’s appointment has signalled the end of McManus’s inter-county career, but also key forward Niall McNamee has signalled he won’t be involved next year.

These absentees coupled with the absence of Clara’s Joe Quinn points towards a new era for Offaly football.

“Hopefully it is a good one, we badly need it,” McManus said.

“We have been in four or five Leinster minor finals in recent years and unfortunately never got to win one of those.

“We need to make a mark at Under 21 and we need to make a mark at Senior level. There are a lot of lads looking for direction and maybe the new management can give that and get them going.

“There is plenty of talent there and I know that we can do it. The pool of talent we have in the county to others is pretty small, but there is plenty of talent, plenty of good lads and good young lads and hopefully it is the beginning of a new era for Offaly, but we have a lot of work to do.”

On his retirement, McManus says it is the right time for him to bow out, after a career which saw him make 48 senior championship appearances for Offaly.

“I suppose I have been thinking about it for a while now and when you are playing for 16 or 17 years, you think about it every year when you are getting near the end,” he said. “I just felt it was probably the right time for myself with a new management gone in, and he has obviously a two or three-year programme and that would add a few years to where I am now. I’d be nearly 40. The other thing was the delay in putting a management team in place and I probably felt that it was the best time to get out. I was playing reasonably well last year and I am happy enough with the way I finished up, but obviously disappointed with the way Offaly finished up.”

The towering Tubber club man believes that he still has more to offer, but that now is the right time to step aside.

“I always keep a certain level of fitness going and I get involved with other things over the winter — soccer, athletics and different things. It’s just to keep the mind fresh as well.

“The body is in good shape and I am happy. There probably is another year in me no problem, but just thinking about it I felt I would get out while I was in good shape.”